Time for School, Little Blue Truck

Little Blue Truck

by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)

Ride along to school with the #1 New York Times bestselling Little Blue Truck and meet Blue's new a bright yellow school bus. Beep-beep! Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad are excited to meet a bright yellow school bus on the road. They see all the little animals lined up in the school bus’s many windows, and Blue wishes he could be a school bus too. What a fun job—but much too big for a little pickup like Blue. Or is it? When somebody misses the bus, it’s up to Blue to get his friend to school on time. Beep! Beep! Vroom! Also enjoy Blue’s bedtime ride in Good Night, Little Blue Truck and his trip to the city in Little Blue Truck Leads the Way !

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Transport, Animals, Trucks, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Alice Schertle has written more than 40 books, mostly for children. A mother and former elementary school teacher, Ms. Schertle is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Many of her most famous works are poetic in nature, though she writes about a wide variety of topics.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One fine fall morning, Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad set off for a drive. Along the way they meet a big yellow bus. All of Blue's animal friends are riding on the bus and are starting their first day of school! Blue is very excited to learn about the job that yellow bus has. Farther down the road, they see little pig crying. He was late and missed the bus!! Maybe Blue can help.

This is another wonderful story, told in rhyme, about being helpful and useful. A great addition to the many "Little Blue Truck" books by author Alicia Schertle and illustrator Jill McElmurry.

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the illustrator has apparently passed away since the original Little Blue Truck was published. Kudos to the new illustrator because it was hard to tell.

Got it from the library because I wanted a break from the ones we have and my daughter loves buses.

Wasn't her favorite, in spite of that, because the noises were fewer than the first book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, but like many books the first is the best (and second).

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s Little Blue Truck and therefore an Owen-pleaser, but kind of meh for me.

[Andi Heminger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhymes weren’t rhyming for me

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Blue Truck sees a school bus picking up children to take them to school. Little Blue Truck longs to be helpful and do such an important job. However, the school bus tells Little Blue Truck that only a school bus is able to do the job. When poor Piggy misses his bus, Little Blue Truck gets his chance. A delightful lighthearted rhyming picture book that's perfect to read at the beginning of the school year.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Blue Truck books are a smash hit in our household (with both kids!) and as evidenced by their beloved, bestselling status, they are clearly a hit with many, many others! In the latest entry, Time for School, Little Blue Truck, our friendly, caring truck meets a rather intimidatingly big and useful school bus that is carrying all of Blue and Toad’s friends to school. Opening with its beautiful singsong refrain of “Horn went ‘Beep!’/Engine purred. Friendliest sounds/you ever heard”, the new story sees Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad calling out a cheery “Beep! Beep! Hi!/ to a big, bright school bus passing by”. Wishing aloud to Toad and their new friend that he had a great job like the school bus, the bus replies to Little Blue Truck that they are “shiny yellow!…long and wide/with lots of windows- and seats inside!”. Now, Little Blue Truck is, of course, not built nor outfitted like a bus and that knowledge makes him feel a bit sad as he carries along his route. But when Blue and Toad respond to a cry from their distressed friend Piggy- who overslept and missed school bus pick-up!- the two stalwarts step in to try and help their friend make it to school as quickly as possible. A jaunty and sweetly exciting build to the finale follows, with a delightful, cheery ending. As ever, Alice Schertle’s kindhearted and comforting rhyming words, and John Joseph’s completely endearing illustrations- rendered so gorgeously in the style of the late Jill McElmurry- make Time for School, Little Blue Truck a terrific read.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Blue meets School Bus for the very first time and is a little envious of the bus's very important job. The school bus encourages Little Blue that he's made for a different special purpose, and when Little Pig is late for the bus, Little Blue gets to live out his dreams and show how his unique skills come in handy.

Little Pig has one wild ride to school, which will likely enthrall readers. They may be wishing for an exciting off track romp through the woods to school themselves. I like how the story emphasizes everyone has unique, special purposes and we don't have to be just like someone/something else to be cool. As per normal for a Little Blue story, this is told entirely in impeccable rhyme and animal sounds are incorporated throughout. The trip through the woods means some forest animal sounds get added to the mix in this story. A good opportunity to talk about jealousy, unique giftings/talents, and an adventurous journey for little virtual thrill seekers.

[Connie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute children's book that teaches a very important lesson in a fun way. The story is about a little blue truck who inspires to be a school bus when he passes by a bus one morning. The bus tells him that this is no job for him, he's not long and yellow with many windows and seats inside. As little Blue drives on that morning he comes across a friend who missed the bus, Blue tells the friend to hop inside and he get him to school. When they arrive at the school the school bus tells Little Blue, I guess this is a job for you.

The book teaches the lesson of you can be anything you want to be, no matter what others might say. It is a book I would definitely put in my classroom.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me review this ALC.

Is there anything sweeter than Little Blue Truck, wanting to do the most to help his friends?

Little Blue Truck meets the bright Yellow School Bus, and is frustrated because he wants to take his friends to school too.

When Little Blue Truck hears piggie crying because he missed the bus, he realizes this is his moment to prove himself, and help his friend get to school on time! Through the woods, across a stream, nothing can stop Little Blue from getting piggie to school in his own special way.

This is a perfect back to school story.

[Jennifer Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My preschooler loves all the Little Blue Truck books and this one was no exception. Little Blue meets a school bus and thinks about how much fun it would be to be a school bus too. However, the bus quickly points out the Little Blue cannot be a bus. On the way home, Little Blue encounters a friend that missed the school bus and does things that only a truck can do to make sure that the friend gets to school on time.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While on the road, Little Blue Truck sees Yellow School Bus with all her passengers on their way to school. Yellow School Bus is so long and wide, Little Blue Truck wishes he could be like Bus. But when Truck spots Pig stranded on the side of the road, Little Blue Truck knows just what to do and how to do it. It is something that only Little Truck could do in Little Truck's way.

Little Blue Truck comes to appreciate his own identity and the unique abilities that he has.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC of this from the publisher through Edelweiss+.

Fans of Little Blue Truck will love this one. Little Blue is sad when the school bus takes all the animals to school, but when Piggy misses the bus, only Blue can get him through the woods to school on time. The rhyming is the same lovely style as the other books in the series and the illustrations are wonderful as well.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

So excited to read the new and latest Little Blue Truck book to my grandson. Especially when his life has been and will be all about it being time for school. If you're late for school, and don't get on the school bus like the other animals, you better hope for a friend like Little Blue Truck to come to your rescue.

[Patricia Strot · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great-grandson loves the little blue truck books. “Time for School, is a simple story but does speak to youngsters. Many children take a bus and have overslept or dawdled and missed the pick-up time. The lesson? All is not lost! Come up with an alternative. My GG-son will enjoy this story but not until Christmas🎅🎄🤶

[Reid Guest · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Little Blue truck is a great series of children’s books about a truck and his friends experiencing universal milestones. Little blue truck makes friends, goes to school, see spring time, the big city and holidays while navigating common themes of team work, friendship and kindness towards others.

Highly recommend any of the books in the series for your 1-4 year old.

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty typical little blue truck book. This one doesn't fit at all. Within the little blue truck universe. We have seen people in lead the way. It doesn't make sense that animals are going to school. So I don't like that there's no continuity in the little blue truck universe. This one also wasn't as requested by my kids as other little blue truck books have been.

[Samantha Fraenkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new Little Blue Truck is always exciting, this one especially because it coincided with my daughter going into Kindergarten! Beautiful illustrations, great rhythm for read-aloud, and a good message make this another winner for the series.

ARC Provided by Edelweiss

[Elizabeth Stiert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Blue wants to be a school bus! An adorable addition to the Little Blue Truck series. I especially liked getting to meet animals other than the farm gang. The squirrel who chattered, chee, chee, chee was a favorite with my 2 year old!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Blue Truck is jealous of the Yellow School Bus, but when someone is left behind, only Little Blue Truck can cut through the woods to get the friend to school on time.

Great for talking about everyone's different gifts and "Do not let anyone despise you because you are young."

[Lindsey Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loves the Little Blue Truck series, so we can’t help but collect them all. They start to feel repetitive after you’ve read a few of them, but they are cute. This one isn’t my favorite, but it’s a solid bedtime pick, and it helps school-aged kids get excited to go back to school.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Blue Truck books have an excellent lyrical quality and lovely illustrations. A sense of strong comradery runs throughout. A good message about trying even when others think that you will fail.

[Andrés · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mission of providing a off-roading Lyft for Piggie, who overslept, is simply not as compelling as the original tale of towing your bully out of the muck when stuck. Little Blue Truck is still a helpful hero, though, for the LBT super-fans.

[Kimberly Luthin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always love a new little blue book😁

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Cute back to school book!

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh, not as interesting at the others in the series

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, rhyming. But hard to see how this one sets itself apart from the myriad of other school books.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars-- Super cute rhyming story with a classic, timeless feel. This one would make a great read-aloud, complete with sound effects!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story of Little Blue Truck helping deliver a pig to school.

[Jocelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in the Little Blue Truck series.